Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria May Enable Lower Fertilizer Use and Lower Costs

     UK Company, NetZero Nitrogen (NZN) is exploring the use of bacteria to acquire nitrogen from the air. They have developed bacterial strains that are applied directly to the seed and allow the plant to get nitrogen from the atmosphere instead of synthetic chemicals. They commenced field trials in January 2024 after successes in the lab and glasshouse. Results show success, as shown with the greener plots below.

     Justin Hughes, CEO of NZN, was previously a fighter pilot and part of the Red Arrows aerobatic team. He sees himself as utilizing his military training to create a competent team with high standards that can help the R&D startup be successful. NZN is utilizing Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus, a bacterium first found on Brazilian sugarcane in 1988. This bacterium fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere.  

     The trials in the Philippines by local firm AgTrX are on rice plants. The trials so far suggest that fertilizer requirements could be reduced by 25%. Hughes believes they can get that to 50% at some point.

     NetZeroNitrogen is aiming to carry out full product trials in early 2025 before going to market in 2026. They have adequate funding, support, and interest.

“NetZeroNitrogen’s bacteria are the product of over a decade of research on the part of Gary Devine, who has been studying naturally occurring nitrogen-fixing strains. Hughes pointed out that the company’s bacteria aren’t genetically modified.”

     There are no impact or regulatory concerns with their bacterial strains.

“The company plans to roll out its first product for rice. It’s partially a marriage of convenience: to apply the bacterial strains, it’s currently easiest to dunk seeds in water containing them. Rice just so happens to be soaked before planting. “You just mix it in at that point and you’re done,” Hughes said.

“Because the company can use large fermenters to grow its strains, it can make its bacterial amendment for less than an equivalent amount of synthetic fertilizer, Hughes said. “The costs of production of biomanufacturing are far, far lower than the Haber-Bosch process, especially once you start to scale up,” he said, referring to the process widely used to make fertilizer.”

“The goal, Hughes added, is to sell NetZeroNitrogen’s bacteria to farmers for at least $50 per hectare less than they spend on synthetic fertilizers. In regions like Southeast Asia, that could mean a 30% to 40% discount, he said.

     In the UK and the EU, the cost of fertilizer has been especially high in the last few years. It should be interesting to watch this biotechnology unfold and to see how fast it is adopted once commercialized. The advantages include cost (especially when scaled up), less fertilizer use, less fertilizer runoff, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

   

 

References:

 

NetZeroNitrogen wants bacteria to replace synthetic fertilizer on farm fields. Tim De Chant. TC Del 1. July 23, 2025. NetZeroNitrogen wants bacteria to replace synthetic fertilizer on farm fields

NetZeroNitrogen Field Trials Initiated: Proof-of-concept Field Trials Commenced on Farm Sites. January 3, 2024. NetZeroNitrogen Field Trials Initiated - NetZeroNitrogen

Former Red Arrows pilot swaps being ‘bad boy of climate change’ to fighting emissions with military grit: Justin Hughes is using his experience as a fighter pilot in the fight to reduce carbon emissions. Andy Gregory. The Independent. December 18, 2024. Former Red Arrows pilot swaps being ‘bad boy of climate change’ to fighting emissions with military grit | The Independent